A Royston woman who suffered a series of strokes due to a serious underlying condition has set up an e-cigarette shop to help other people trying to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes.

The problems began when Tracie Adams started suffering from migraines and sight loss back in 2012, which she described as a ‘very scary’ time.

The 38-year-old said: “Me and my partner had just split up, so I didn’t know if I was stressed. I just endured it and carried on.”

After being told that doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with her, Tracie sank into a deep depression.

She said: “My doctor talked to me and asked why I’d suffered a sudden dip in wellbeing and I told her I was anxious about my headaches and vision loss and not having a reason for it.”

In November, she had an MRI scan, and after a series of tests, medical experts discovered she had severe right sided intracranial carotid artery stenosis – a serious condition in which the main artery going from the heart into the brain is severely narrowed – which can lead to strokes.

Tracie, who has lived in and around the town her entire life, said: “Smoking is a contributing factor.

“I was smoking between 10 and 15 cigarettes a day.

“My condition won’t improve because the damage is done, it’s just a live with it kind of thing now.

“I hope to God I don’t bleed. I’m on quite a heavy dose of blood thinners.”

Tracie was told to stop smoking immediately by her neurologist, as her life depended on it.

She threw away her last packet and opted for vapour cigarettes instead.

After travelling to and from Letchworth and Cambridge to get Liberty Flights e-cigarettes – as they are not available in Royston – Tracie decided it was time to set up her own shop in the town.

She said: “I was working in an after-school club. I wasn’t getting on very well with it. I said I wish I could do something different.

“I walked into town and saw there was a shop for let. It was meant to be.”

Tracie opened up her shop E-scape The Addiction in the Corn Exchange earlier this month to coincide with the Royston Summer Rock event.

Already there have been a steady stream of customers keen to buy her vapour cigarettes.